New England Patriots, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins
Monday 5 September 2016 16:19, UK
What should we expect from the Patriots, Jets, Bills and Dolphins? Sky Sports take a look...
New England Patriots
Head Coach: Bill Belichick
Key man: Tom Brady is suspended for the first four games of this season, following an overturned 'Deflategate' appeals process. On his return to the field, Brady will be fired up to win a fifth Super Bowl ring before his 40th birthday.
Major additions: A typically understated offseason for the Pats, although the acquisition of former Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett should take some of the pressure off star man Rob Gronkowski.
Last season: They entered the season as defending champions and cruised to another AFC East division title, posting a 12-4 record. Eventual Super Bowl winners Denver Broncos ended their quest for a repeat, beating the Pats 18-20 in a nail-biting AFC Championship game.
Prospects: The Patriots look strong once again on both sides of the ball, but much will depend on how they cope with the loss of Brady for the first quarter of the season. Jimmy Garoppolo is poised to take the reins, and if the former Eastern Illinois QB can sneak a couple of wins, the return of Brady would make them favourites for an eighth consecutive AFC East crown.
Prediction: 1st (11-5)
New York Jets
Head Coach: Todd Bowles
Key man: After refusing to sign his franchise tag and feeling unwanted by the Jets in July, defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson signed a long term deal and now looks set for a big year in one of the best defensive lines in the NFL.
Major additions: Not an addition strictly, but re-signing quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick after months of drawn-out negotiations was a big win for the Jets. Bringing veteran running back Matt Forte on board also strengthens a rushing attack that averaged the second fewest yards-per-game (56.7) last season.
Last season: A bittersweet campaign for the Jets. First-year Head Coach Todd Bowles replaced Rex Ryan and impressed, taking a 4-12 team and posting the Jets' first winning season since 2010. But Rex had the last word as his Buffalo Bills beat the Jets in Week 17 to keep them out of the play-offs, putting a dampener on an otherwise successful season.
Prospects: The AFC East is shaping up to be a competitive division, but the Jets should feel confident. They have retained the dynamic Fitzpatrick-Marshall connection and added Forte to the mix, while their defence should remain one of the league's top 10.
Prediction: 2nd (9-7)
Buffalo Bills
Head coach: Rex Ryan
Key man: After a quiet preseason, Sammy Watkins is ready to play a major role for the Bills this season. Coming off foot surgery, and with injuries always a concern, Watkins at full strength can be a difference maker in Buffalo.
Major additions: A coaching staff shake-up has seen Rex Ryan hire his brother, former New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, to run his defence as assistant head coach, while nine-time Pro Bowler Ed Reed joins the team as assistant defensive backs coach.
Last season: It was an up and down campaign in Ryan's first year in charge as the Bills recorded an 8-8 record.
Prospects: The emergence of quarterback Tyrod Taylor last season was a definite bonus and his connection with second-year wide-out Watkins is key to their continued success. It was no surprise to see Rex go defense-first in the NFL draft as he used his first three picks to strengthen his front seven. Improvement on that side of the ball will be needed for the Bills to challenge the Jets and Pats.
Prediction: 3rd (7-9)
Miami Dolphins
Head coach: Adam Gase
Key man: It was a disappointing start in Miami for Ndamukong Suh, but the four-time Pro Bowler will want to reassert himself as one of the most dominant defensive players in the league.
Major additions: The Dolphins have a new Head Coach. Former Broncos and Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase gets his first opportunity to lead a team, and he's the youngest Head Coach in the NFL at 38 years old. Regarded as something of a quarterback whisperer, he's tasked with developing the talented but inconsistent Ryan Tannehill. On the playing side, the Dolphins used their first-round pick on controversial offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil of Ole Miss, while running back Arian Foster joins from the Houston Texans.
Last season: A season to forget. Former Head Coach Joe Philbin was canned after a 1-3 start, and they limped to a 6-10 finish under interim coach Dan Campbell. One positive was Jarvis Landry, who improved upon an impressive rookie campaign by hauling in 110 catches for more than 1,000 yards to establish himself as Tannehill's go-to guy.
Prospects: Tunsil is a gamble, but if it works out the Dolphins have a steal at offensive tackle with their 13th pick. The addition of oft-injured running back Foster is a risk too, but they had to act following the departure of Lamar Miller. They've added big names on defense as well, trading for Byron Maxwell and Kiko Alonso from the Philadelphia Eagles and signing former number one overall pick Mario Williams from the Bills. Foster, Maxwell, Alonso and Williams have unquestioned talent but plenty to prove in South Beach.
Prediction: 4th (6-10)
